And the Arnie Award Goes to … Jake Owen

At Tuesday night’s (Feb. 7) Golfers Who Give Back event, Jake Owen was honored with an Arnie Award.

An Arnie — named for the late golfer Arnold Palmer — is the award Golf Digest gives to recognize the most charitable players on the course.

When Owen was called to the stage during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, he said he didn’t do good works in order to receive any kind of praise.

“I don’t do things for awards, but this is by far the most humbling thing I could ever achieve,” Owen said.

And when he shared the news on Instagram, he reiterated that he strives to be the kind of person who is doing the kinds of things that matter.

“Last night was literally one of the greatest moments in my life,” he wrote. “I was awarded ’The Arnie Award.’ I also received this amazing honor last night with two people I’ve always admired and looked up to … Phil Mickelson and Peyton Manning. The award is not only near and dear to my heart because of the great Arnold Palmer (who is probably the most respected athlete in history) but also because it’s given to golfers that ’give back.'”

The Jake Owen Foundation supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hostpial and youth organizations and other charities in Indian River County, Florida.

Even though Owen learned to golf at a young age — and is very, very good at the sport — he’s not going to quit his day job.

“I feel like I’ve been able to touch more people with a guitar and a song than I would have with a putter or a driver,” he told Golf Digest.